736 [Assembly 



Lake George penetrates Esse:^ county several miles, and dis- 

 charges through an outlet of about three miles and a half in 

 length, into Lake Champlain, by a strong, deep, and equable 

 stream, which is navigable to the lower falls. This stream in Us 

 course from Lake George to the falls, forms a most extraordi- 

 nary water power, in some peculiarities, without a parallel. It 

 discharges, per second, a volume of water, exceeding 400 feet, 

 along a natural canal of one mile and a half in length, making 

 chiefly by a gradual descent, a fall of 220 feet. Through almost 

 its whole course, water wheels, connected with machinery, may be 

 dropped from its elevated rocky banks, into the stream, and pro- 

 pelled cilmost without any artificial arrangement. TIjc sloping 

 banks of Lake George, form an immense receptacle where the 

 excess of water is accumulated, and gradually discharges. Henccj 

 no freshets can endanger the works upon its outlet, but a uniform 

 and permanent supply of water is secured at all seasons, and un- 

 der all circumstances. This stream rarely varies three feet from 

 its ordinary level. The warDith of the water, and the rapidity 

 of the current, prevents every obstruction from ice to the wheel. 

 The water may be diffused laterally, and its power multiplied to 

 any extent. The great and rare purity of the water, renders it 

 particularly adapted to those manufactories which require dy- 

 ing, bleaching, and printing facilities. In combination with all 

 these singular advantages, this position commands the commercial 

 thoroughfare formed by the lakes ; it may reach the immense for- 

 ests extending far into the interior ; spreading upon each side 

 of Lake George, it has, within its own environs, a rich and abun- 

 dant mineral region, and has near and easy access to the vast iron 

 deposits of the Moriah district. 



Such harmony in its arrangements, so great and remarJvable 

 advantages in the bounties of Providence, are rarely combined. 

 The utilitarian spirit of the age, the interests of business and 

 enterprise, would long since have converted these neglected 

 privileges into elements of prosperit}*and wealth ; but the blight 

 of foreign ownership has paralysed those high bounties. The cu- 

 pidity or grossly mistaken and pernicious policy of these proprie- 

 tors has imposed terms so exacting, as to repel every purpose 

 of an adequate occupation of these advantages. 



